Monday, May 4, 2009

With summer and a trip to the Arizona desert quickly approaching, I'm thinking about the best ways to look cute, keep cool, and carry my gun.

When it's really hot, I don't wear shorts - I much prefer the breezy ventilation of a skirt. Besides, there are few people in the world that really look good wearing shorts, and believe me, I'm not one of them. (I also try to avoid being the object of stares - it get so tiresome being scrutinized and having the "Oh, honey, what happened to your leg?" conversation.) So, sure, I'll wear them around the house occasionally, but mostly stick to sundresses, skirts or just jeans when I'm in public.

Carrying a gun while wearing pants with belt loops is easy - I do it everyday - but skirts create a dilemma. I'm considering a thigh holster...

I've never tried one, but I have heard that thigh holsters are difficult to access and to keep in place. I know I have difficulties keeping my ankle holster from sliding down, and I would expect the same from a thigh holster.

I don't know much about your leg, except that you have a prosthetic. Is it possible (and worth the effort) to modify your prosthetic to make attaching a holster easy and practical? (I'm thinking you could attach a bracket that would securely engage the holster's belt clip/loops.)

Doing something like that could avoid "slippage" issues, and would probably be more comfortable, too.

If you get a thigh holster, would you please post a review? I can't get stockings to stay up without a garter belt, so I've always been dubious about the ability of thigh holsters to stay in place with the additional weight they carry.

Breda, A few things to think about concerning carry in AZ.1) We're still a relatively relaxed State and Open Carry is not yet too unusual.

2) Please note that carry is forbidden where alcohol is sold for consumption on premises (i.e. bras, restaurants that serve alcohol etc...) though carry is perfectly ok at convenience stores and grocery stores. OTOH, one does have to be careful as both BevMo and Total Wine and More have bar licenses due to their wine and beer tastings.This could be of concern due to the NRA functions with cash bars, though I have heard that the standard no firearms at the convention center has been lifted for the NRA event.

3) Also please note that one can legally carry openly wherever one can legally carry concealed.

4) The sun is NOT your friend!! I know that people are happy to see the sun in Ohio. However, here in AZ it is more of an enemy than a friend so remember sunblock and where light clothing that covers your skin. Oh, and drink lots of water.

Here's your daily weather report, currently 88 degrees in the Cochise County area (SE of Tucson) at 3:30 p.m. Phoenix is usually slightly hotter since we are at a higher elevation. Jeans wouldn't bother me that bad today as long as I have a cold bottle of water to go with them.

The skirt/thigh holster combination is just plain sexy, even if the skirt is long. I'm imagining a Han Solo-style holster attached with a garter, all under the skirt. I say go for it, although I'm a fella and I have no experience with that particular combination.....but I *do* own and sometimes wear one of these:http://www.utilikilts.com/index.php?page_id=27

I've been brave enough to wear it out (with girlfriend) walking the dog, to the grocery store and once to a movie.

The even cooler solution would be to have a prosthetic built with an integrated, spring-loaded concealed carry holster.....I see an amazing opportunity to geek out and take a small step toward 'cyborg' status. I'd be all over that one if I were you.

My wife and I have found that the Kangaroo holster seems to work pretty well for those situations that prevent the use of belt loops. See a review here: http://www.gunblast.com/Kangaroo.htm

One suggestion, however, you may want to consider permanently sewing the hook and loop fastener in place as if (more likely when) it comes loose, you'll have an embarrassing time grabbing your gun beneath your shirt and holding on to ensure it doesn't fall to the ground...

For reference, we also have a Bersa Thunder 380 and while the Bersa can be made to work, it's a lot harder to conceal (and has a more sharp edges) than say our kel-Tec P32. No surprise, but the most comfortable way to carry the Bersa is with a solid leather OWB holster.

>I've been brave enough to wear it out (with girlfriend) walking the dog, to the grocery store and once to a movie.<

Man up, boy: DOWN WITH PANTS! :P

Sorry: if I'm not at work or on the bike, odds are I'm in a kilt...

Breda: I've got one of those, which I've used under my kilt (and yes, I wear the kilt properly). Used with a steel framed Taurus 85, didn't work so well. With mom's old Mustang, it's fine. DO however, practice drawing from it: it's kinda awkward at first.

Well... if someone REALLY wants to reach up my kilt to "go for my gun", I suppose it could be a problem. Last time I wore it, Spoon DID complain about it "being in the damn way"... ;)

Just remembered one thing: if you go with this, get a couple good-sized safety pins, to help keep the damn thing wrapped. On mine, the velcro has a tendency to start pulling loose, so I add a couple safety pins...